I had a TKR in 2013 and a second one 5 months later. The second one was much easier because I knew what to expect. I was able to manage more without help at an earlier stage. You really should have someone stay with you for at least a week or so and someone to drive you to appointments the first couple of weeks. I'm not much for pain meds, but I did use them the first week. Since I couldn't drive for a couple weeks, my physical therapist came to my home. That was a Godsend. Make sure you continue all prescribed exercises, and walk around the house, as prescribed. By a week, I was just using tylenol and by two weeks. I was walking outside without a cane. I used a Walker to get to bathroom and around the house the first week.

@mimi99 welcome to Connect. Thank you for sharing your experience with both knee replacements. It's really helpful to others, myself included. I am currently waiting for an appointment with a knee specialist to look at a possible knee replacement. I've been working on some pre-knee replacement surgery exercises as well as the physical therapy exercises needed after the surgery. I know they are both needed to help make the surgery rehab go smoothly.

John